98 NATURE-STUDY 



are really useful, yet are generally killed. For example, 

 hawks and owls have a bad reputation with the farmer 

 and others, as chicken and turkey thieves. But it has 

 been shown that most hawks and owls destroy much more 

 harmful vermin than chickens. Try to get the children 

 to appreciate the birds as our friends and helpers, and to 

 wish to protect rather than destroy them. 



Note how the young learn to fly. First observe the growth 

 of the plumage on the nestlings. What are the birds covered 

 with when first hatched? Where do the feathers first ap- 

 pear? How long before the young are full fledged? Do 

 the old birds seem to show the young how to fly? It often 

 happens that some of the young are frightened or crowded 

 out of the nest before they are really able to fly. If fairly 

 well fledged, it is probably useless to return the waif to the 

 nest, as it will probably fall out again. These helpless birds 

 are easy victims to the weather, cats and dogs, and bad 

 boys. Here would be an opportunity to help. Catch the 

 young bird, scaring and chasing it as little as possible. Wait 

 till it goes to sleep at night, if possible, then pick it up and 

 place it in a cage. It will probably not know enough to feed 

 itself, and will have to be fed by hand on insects and worms. 

 If the cage is placed where the old birds can see it, they will 

 often come and feed their child. Hand-feeding of young 

 birds is not an easy task, but the patience and diligence 

 would be rewarded by having a tame bird. After the bird 

 is tame it should be liberated. It will probably remain 

 about the place, and will be a greater pleasure than if kept 

 in confinement. 



